IRRIGATION SLEEVE AND PHACOEMULSIFICATION NEEDLE WITH SLEEVE RETENTION FEATURES

MANCHON D'IRRIGATION ET AIGUILLE DE PHACOEMULSIFICATION AVEC DES ELEMENTS DE RETENTION DU MANCHON

English Abstract

A combination of an irrigation sleeve (20) and a phacoemulsification needle (22). The irrigation sleeve (20) has a proximal end (32) and a distal end (30), the proximal end for attachment to a surgical handpiece. The phacoemulsification needle (22) has a proximal end (26), a distal end (24), and a lumen (38) spanning a length of the needle (22) from the proximal end (26) to the distal end (24). The needle proximal end (26) is for connection to the surgical handpiece, and the needle (22) has structure (44) proximate the needle distal end (24) for retaining the sleeve distal end (30) near the needle distal end (24).

French Abstract

L'invention concerne une combinaison d'un manchon d'irrigation 20 et aiguille de phacoémulsification 22. Le manchon d'irrigation 20 comprend une extrémité proximale 32 et une extrémité distale 30, l'extrémité proximale servant à la fixation à une pièce manuelle chirurgicale. L'aiguille de phacoémulsification 22 comprend une extrémité proximale 26, une extrémité distale 24 et une lumière 38 s'étendant sur la longueur de l'aiguille 22 de l'extrémité proximale 26 à l'extrémité distale 24. L'extrémité proximale 26 de l'aiguille sert à la connexion à la pièce manuelle chirurgicale et l'aiguille 22 comprend la structure 44 à proximité de l'extrémité distale 24 pour retenir l'extrémité distale 30 du manchon près de l'extrémité distale 24 de l'aiguille.

Claims

The embodiments of the present invention for which an exclusive property or
privilege is claimed are defined as follows:
1. A combination
of an irrigation sleeve and a phacoemulsification needle
comprising:
an irrigation sleeve having a proximal end and a distal end, the
proximal end for attachment to a surgical handpiece;
a phacoemulsification needle having a proximal end, a distal end and a
lumen spanning a length of the needle from the proximal end to
the distal end;
wherein the needle proximal end is for connection to the surgical
handpiece and the needle has structure forming a tapered
section proximate the needle distal end such that an outer
diameter of the tapered section increases from a distal point to a
proximal point; and
wherein the irrigation sleeve distal end surrounds the needle adjacent
the tapered section proximal point such that the outer diameter of the
tapered section at the proximal point is greater than an outer diameter
of the sleeve distal end.
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Description

Irrigation Sleeve and Phacoemulsification Needle with Sleeve
Retention Features
Background
1. Field
[0002] The present embodiment relates to phacoemulsification sleeves and
needles and, more particularly, to combinations of sleeves and needles with
features for retaining the attachment of the sleeve to the needle in a desired
position during and after insertion through an incision.
2. Description of the Related Art
[0003] It is well known in the art to use a bi-axial phacoemulsification
(phaco)
handpiece. A phaco handpiece has a phaco needle attached to a distal end of
the handpiece with a flexible irrigation sleeve surrounding most of the phaco
needle and also attached to the handpiece. The sleeve typically carries
irrigation
fluid from an outlet in the handpiece to a surgical site. The irrigation fluid
flows
between the inside of the sleeve and the outside of the needle, and into a
surgical site through ports formed in the sleeve. The irrigation fluid helps
cool the
needle during use, and also replaces fluid aspirated from the surgical site
through a lumen in the needle to prevent the eye globe from collapsing during
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surgery. Thus the needle and sleeve provide two functions, irrigation and
aspiration, in a bi-axial manner.
[0004] The irrigation sleeve is typically formed of compliant material,
such as
silicone or other relatively soft, compressible materials, so that the sleeve
will not
damage the tissue at the incision interface and also for the purpose of
forming at
least a partial seal at the incision to minimize fluid leaking from the eye
during
surgery.
[0005] Current trends in ophthalmic surgery are demanding ever smaller
diameter needles and smaller incisions. It is believed that smaller incisions
lead
to less change in corneal curvature and better visual acuity post-operation.
These smaller incisions have led to tighter interfaces with the sleeves and
needles. A problem, becoming more prevalent, is that the sleeve accordions at
the incision, as the surgeon attempts to insert the sleeve and needle through
the
incision. This problem is shown at FIG. 1. A needle 10 has passed through an
incision 12 in an eye 14, but a sleeve 16 has accordioned at 18 outside the
eye
14. Needle 10 is attached to a phaco handpiece 20 in a known manner, typically
via a threaded connection, as shown. It is critical that sleeve 16 pass
through
incision 12 and into the eye 14 along with needle 10, so that sleeve 16 can
protect the eye tissue from damage and to provide irrigation fluid into the
eye 14.
[0006] Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a combination of an
irrigation sleeve and a needle that would assist in retaining the sleeve in a
desired position, as the sleeve and needle are inserted through an incision.
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Brief Description of the Drawings
[0007] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of
selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.
[0008] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts
throughout the several views of the drawings.
[0009] FIG. 1 is an elevation of a prior art irrigation sleeve and phaco
needle;
[0010] FIG. 2 is an elevation of an irrigation sleeve and phaco needle
combination, in accordance with the present disclosure;
[0011] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of FIG. 2 taken along lines 3-3;
[0012] FIG. 4 is a partial elevation of an alternative embodiment of an
irrigation sleeve and phaco needle combination, in accordance with the present
disclosure;
[0013] FIG. 5 is a partial elevation of the phaco needle of FIG. 4; and
[0014] FIG. 6 is a partial elevation of another embodiment of an irrigation
sleeve and phaco needle combination, in accordance with the present
disclosure.
Detailed Description
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a phacoemulsification needle sleeve 20, in accordance
with the present disclosure. Sleeve 20 is attached to a phacoemulsification
needle 22 having a distal end 24 and a proximal end 26. Proximal end 26 is
typically attached to a conventional phacoemulsification handpiece (not
shown),
which may or may not include a port for delivering irrigation fluid between
the
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phacoemulsification needle sleeve 20 and needle 22. Sleeve 20 includes an
elongated, resilient essentially tubular body portion 28 having a distal end
30 and
a proximal end 32 for surrounding a portion of a shaft of a
phacoemulsification
needle 22. Sleeve proximal end 32 includes an enlarged section, as shown,
formed on the proximal end of the body portion 28 for surrounding a hub (shown
below in FIG. 3) of the needle 22, and for attachment to a surgical handpiece
(not
shown). The sleeve distal end 30 is retained by needle structure (shown below
in
FIG. 3) proximate needle distal end 24 for retaining the sleeve distal end 30
near
the needle distal end 24. The sleeve 20 also typically includes at least one
irrigation port 34 (see FIG. 2) formed proximate the sleeve distal end 30.
[0016] The sleeve 20 is typically formed of silicone or other pliable,
compressible, resilient materials suitable for use in surgery. In this way,
sleeve
20 performs both an insulative and sealing function for use during cataract
surgery. FIG. 3 shows a cut-away view of FIG. 2 taken along line 3-3. As can
be
seen, enlarged section of the proximal end 32 surrounds a phaco needle hub 36
of needle 22. During surgery, emulsified cataract tissue and irrigation fluid
are
aspirated through lumen 38 spanning a length of the needle 22 from the
proximal
end 26 to the distal end 24 into a phaco handpiece, not shown, and eventually
into a collection reservoir of a pumping system of an ophthalmic surgical
system
(also not shown), such as that available from Bausch & Lomb Incorporated.
Irrigation fluid may be introduced to surround needle 22 and be contained by
sleeve 20 and will initially flow in the direction of arrows 40. The
introduction of
such irrigation fluid provides for more insulative and sealing effects for
sleeve 20
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than without such fluid being introduced between needle 22 and the sleeve 20.
The needle proximal end 26 typically includes a threaded hub 42 for mating
connection to a threaded section of the surgical handpiece (not shown). The
sleeve distal end 30 is retained by needle structure 44 near the needle distal
end
24.
[0017] Needle structure 44 of FIG. 3, is in the form of an annular groove,
as
shown, for mating engagement with a flange 46 of the sleeve 20. Groove 44 and
flange 46 cooperate to prevent the sleeve accordion shown in FIG. 1. By
retaining sleeve distal end 30 near needle distal end 24 as the sleeve 20 and
needle 22 are inserted through an incision, the sleeve will be properly
positioned
to provide irrigation fluid to the eye during surgery, as well as provide its
insulative and sealing properties. This increases the efficiency of the
surgery
and minimizes the likelihood that a surgeon will need to halt surgery and
manipulate the sleeve, needle, and incision to insert the sleeve through the
incision. This results in less trauma to the tissue at the incision. Retaining
the
sleeve in the groove 44 also provides a consistent position of the sleeve
distal
end 30 relative to the needle distal end 24 which assists the surgeon in
visualization of the surgical site. Groove 44 may have a cross-sectional shape
other than the rounded shape shown, such as square, triangular, or other
geometric shapes.
[0018] FIGs. 4 and 5 disclose an alternate embodiment where the retaining
structure is an annular boss 50 for mating engagement with a groove 52 of a
sleeve 54. Boss 50 may be formed on needle 56 by any known method, such as

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molding, machining, or other methods. Boss 50 may also be a separate ring that
is adhered to or frictionally attached to needle 56. Boss 50 may also have
cross-
sectional shapes other than the rounded shape shown, such as square,
triangular, or other geometric shapes. The groove 52 should have a shape
sufficiently mating to the boss 50, so that sleeve 54 will be retained near
the
needle distal end 58.
[0019] FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment where the retaining structure
is
a tapered section 60 proximate the needle distal end 62, such that an outer
diameter of the tapered section increases from a distal point 64 to a proximal
point 66, such that the outer diameter of the tapered section 60 at the
proximal
point 66 is greater than an outer diameter of the sleeve distal end 68.
Tapered
section 60 can be formed on needle 70 by any know method, including those
identified above with respect to forming boss 50. It is important that the
outer
diameter at proximal point 66 is greater than the outer diameter of the sleeve
distal end 68, so that the sleeve distal end 68 will not catch on the incision
and
accordion as the needle and sleeve combination is inserted through the
incision.
The tapered section 60 also provides for a ramp or wedge to spread the
incision
with minimal tissue trauma and allow the sleeve to pass through the incision
without catching on the incision.
[0020] The embodiments shown above allow an irrigation sleeve and phaco
needle combination to be easily inserted through an incision of less than 2 mm
in
length. The needles and sleeves of all the embodiments are essentially the
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same, except for the differences in the retaining structure and the sleeve
distal
ends.
[0021] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for
purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive
or to
limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular
embodiment
are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where
applicable, are
interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not
specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways.
Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and
all
such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the
disclosure.
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Representative Drawing